Walking doll action



'Feb. 2, 1954 J, EDWARDSON WALKING DOLL ACTION Filed Jan. 4, 1951 FlG.4

INVENTORI JOHN E. EDWARDSON HIS ATTY'S Patented Feb. 2, 1954 UNITED STATE.

ATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

My invention relates to mechanical toys, particularly to mechanical figures, an object of which is to provide a mechanical action for dolls of the character herewithin described, which is capable of locomotion simulating bipedaI walking.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described, which may be equipped with an auxiliary rolling representation of a wheelbarrow, lawn mower, or similar toy, which will assist in maintaining upright posture for the figure.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described in which the legs are interconnected with the crankshaft thereby facilitating and adding to the stability and flexibility of action of same.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a device which is economical in manufacture, simple in construction, and otherwise, well suited for the purpose for which it is designed.

With the foregoing objects in view, and such other objects and advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, my invention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all as hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective exploded view of the mechanical action.

Figures 2, 3 and 4 are diagrammatic representation of the respective leg positions at various eccentric positions.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

Two substantially triangular, fiat, parallel and opposite support plates 2 and 2 are suspended from either side of the body of the figure (not illustrated). Two drillings 3 and d in support plate i arranged in vertical relationship to each other are: duplicated by parallel and opposite drillings (not illustrated) in support plate 2. The uppermost of these said drillings 3 is interconnected with the drilling corresponding with it in said opposite support plate 2, by an elongated cylindrical transverse rod 5. This said transverse rod serves a dual purpose. As implicitly suggested hereinbefore, it functions as a tie rod to bridge the space between the aforesaid support plates.- The other function is as a guide rod for thigh components e and I.

The said thigh components are of substantially cylindrical. conformation in mid section but with the ends, however, deformed. The: lower and of thigh 6 terminates in a short, flattened, centrally disposed tongue 8, whereas the upper end terminates in an elongated tongue 9 which is offset outwardly from the centre. The ends of the pposite thigh component I correspondingly terminate in tongues l0 and ll which are substantially similar to tongues 8 and 9.

Tongue ends 8 and ID are each provided with two apertures, one of which I I is circular for the reception of pivot pins l2 and I3. The other aperture is an arcuate slot M, the curvature of' which is a circular arc. The horizontally disposed, right-angulated end of a radius rod l fits into said slot and similarly, arcuate slot It, and radius rod I l have corresponding relationships with respect to the opposite thigh.

Both pivot pins 12 and I3 and radius rod ends i5 and I1 pivot respective leg portions l8 and i9 of my device. These leg portions are provided with end s1ots'20 and 21 respectively, thus forming fork ends for tongues B and I9. Apertures 22 and 23 are provided in said fork ends to correspond with aforementioned apertures H and it. Thus, pivot pin l2 operates as a connector, as well as pivot in apertures II and 23 in thigh components and leg portions respectively.

Similar apertures in leg portions l9 receive pivot pin l3, and radius rod end ll. After assembly, both radius rod ends I5 and l! are peened as at 24 for security.

The lower ends of said leg portions [8 and I9 have similar slots 25 and 26 thus forming fork ends. A transverse aperture 27, in one of said fork ends receives a pivot pin 28 and similarly, in the other leg, a corresponding pin 29 fits in the aperture provided.

Two simulated, boot-shod feet 30 and 3| provided with tongues 32 and 3-3 are provided with apertures 34 and 35 to receive aforementioned pivot pins 28 and 29, thus freely pivoting the feet to the leg portions.

Each of the upper, elongated tongues 9 and l 5 comprising a part of thigh components 6 and i are also provided with two apertures. One is a relatively large diametered circular aperture 36 and corresponding aperture 31 in the other thigh l. The other is an elongated, vertically disposed slot 38 and corresponding slot 39 in the other thigh. These said slotted apertures engage upon transverse rod 5 and are slideably attached thereto.

Two circ lar ecce tries. ii and d5 fittedv into other of apertures 35 centrics are e to rotate within a, and are eccen lically fixed upon crankshaft 52'.

tries, 38 and 4!.

Flanges 49' and M are formed on the sides of the eccentrics to maintain the thigh components in position against support plates l and 2. The ends of said crankshaft are borne within bearing apertures 4 in support plates I and 2.

The upper ends of the aforementioned connecting rods l 5 and I I are equipped with horizontally disposed bearing sleeves 43 and 44 respectively. The aforesaid crankshaft, 12, is lournalled through these said sleeve ends, pins 44' being provided to maintain the endwise position of sleeves upon the crankshaft 42.

At the mid point of the crankshaft, a gear 45 is illustrated which is adapted to be driven by a conventional spring motor (not illustrated) but which may be located between plates and 2, and supplies motive power to actuate the assembly.

In operation, a rotational moment is applied through gear 45 to the aforementioned crankshaft 42. This crankshaft in turn actuates eccen- Simultaneously, radius rod sleeve bearings 43 and 44 permit the said crankshaft to rotate whilst they each rock freely upon said crankshaft.

The revolving eccentrics 40 and M bearing within the apertures 35 and 3'! exert a corresponding revolving moment upon thigh components 6 and '1 since the crankshaft itself is re strained by journalling in apertures 4 in support plates l and 2.

Assuming first, for the purpose of description only, that the body of the figure is held aloft so components to become alternatively elevated and depressed with respect to the support plates. Further restraint is imposed upon the degree of movement imparted to the thigh components by the radius rods which are slidea-bly engaged in the arced slots, l4 and It in the lower thigh tongues 8 and Iii. Between the limits of said slots, however, reciprocating'motion is imparted to the leg 'mernbe'rs l8 and 59 by the self-same radius rods through apertures 22 and 22'. The reciprocating force exerted upon the said apertures causes the leg members to pivot back and forth about pivot pins l2 and I3.

.Thus, the swinging action of the leg members is coordinated with a reciprocating and rocking motion of the thigh components.

At the same time, the feet 39 and 31 being suspended by pivoting about pins 23 and 29 held in apertures in the leg members, are free to maintain an equilibrant horizontal position by virtue of the location of the centre of gravity within said feet. However, the conformation of the tongues 32 and 33 relative to the depth of slots 25 and 26, within which said tongues are free to rotate, prevent the aforesaid tendency to remain horizontal to be effective at all positions of the leg membersj Thus, when the foot member swings into extreme forward or rearward positions, the tongues make contact with the bases of their corresponding slots and the positions of the two members remain relatively fixed temporarily, or until reverse action by the entire limb again carries past the point of contact and the pedal member can again swing freely. This will, obviously, convey an illusion of simulated ankle aetiqn Very effectively.

It will be observed also that angular displacement of the eccentrics by 180 degrees provides for maximum coordinated opposition in the action of the two limbs, in each of the several articulated members.

If now, the assumption that the body of the figure is held suspended aloft is replaced by the alternative assumption of support upon a flat surface, such as a floor, it will be apparent that simulated walking by the figure will be conveyed to an observer.

Now, instead of being rigidly suspended from the support plates, the support plates themselves are supported upon the leg assemblies. During a complete cycle of rotation on the part of the cocentric, each of the leg assemblies will also go through a complete cycle of motion. During the part of the said cycle of motion represented by angular positions 0 through and to (rotary counterclockwise with reference to Figures 2, 3'ancl' l), the limb is traversing forwardly and is lengthening due to reciprocating from bottoming of rod 5 in slots 38 and Simultaneously, the opposite limb is traversing from the 180 position through 270 to 6, which has the tendency of causing the said limb to move rear- Wardly or upwardly relative to the floor surface, and in so doing, causes the figure to move forwardly. Then as the crankshaft continues to rotate, the two limbs replace each other, thus causing the limbs alternately to propel the figure forwardly. In this connection, the degrees of revolution are counted counterclockwise in relation to Figures 2, 3 and 4.

To ensure that the figure will maintain an erect position it is desirable to provide an auxiliary such as a wheelbarrow which will assist in maintaining the aforesaid erect position. This auxiliary is not depicted in my drawings as it can take various conventional forms.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A mechanical walking action for dolls and the like adapted to be operated by a conventional spring action motor, comprising in combination a pair of spaced and parallel support plates, a crankshaft spanning said plates, and journalled for rotation therein, diametrically opposed eccentrics situated upon said crankshaft, a pair of articulated legs suspended from said crankshaft, each of said legs including thigh components, said thigh components being apertured to engage said eccentrics, leg portions pivotally depending from said thigh components, radius rods extending between said crankshaft and a point adjacent the pivotal connection between said thigh components and said leg portions and means to limit the oscillatory motion of said thigh components said means including a transversal rod spanning said support plates, said thigh portions being slotted at the upper ends thereof, said slots engaging around said rod;

2. The device according to claim 1 in which said radius rods include horizontally disposed bearing sleeves upon the upper ends thereof journalled upon said crankshaft, the opposite ends of said radius rods being pivoted to the upper ends of said leg portions and the lower ends of said he... r

thigh components, the said lower ends of said thigh components being arcuately slotted to receive said radius rod ends.

3. A mechanical walking action for dolls and the like adapted to be operated by a conventional spring action motor, comprising in combination a pair of spaced and parallel support plates, a crankshaft spanning said plates being journalled for rotation therein, a pair of diametrically opposed eccentrics secured to said crankshaft, a pair of articulated legs suspended from said crankshaft, a transverse rod also spanning said side plates, each of said legs including thigh components the upper ends of said components being slotted to engage said rod, said thigh components also being apertured to engage said eccentrics, leg portions pivotally depending from said thigh components, radius rods extending between said crankshaft and a point adjacent the pivotal connection between said thigh components and said leg portions, said radius rods Eeferenees Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 129,622 Tellner July 15, 1872 1,684,287 Paluck Sept. 11, 1928 1,687,675 Lehmann Oct. 16, 1928 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date Great Britain May 13, 1896 

